"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message
ink.net

Why?

Just because.

I don't think there's any sort of "Wow! NOBODY's done this before!" aspect
to this. Of *course* men have flown in space. The only difference here -
and the challenge of the task - is to do it with private money.

Why is that a challenge? Because traditionally space travel has only been
done at the expense of billions of dollars and huge government
bureaucracies. The X-Prize is out to demonstrate that space travel doesn't
have to remain the domain of governments.

I personally like the idea of non-government entities in space. Why? "Just
because," mostly. The fact that they're doing this without tax money is a
bonus - and I'm generally supportive of space programs.

My opinion is that the major advances in space technology from this point
forward are going to come from the private sector. Space tourism is just
the start. When companies figure out how to use microgravity profitably to
manufacture crystals and special alloys, we'll start to see real advances
and lower costs for space technology. Then perhaps manned exploration of
the solar system.

That's a l-o-n-g way in the future, though. I'll be lucky to see much of it
fully realized in my lifetime.

But I'm a dreamer - much like Rutan and the others vying for the X-Prize.
The $10M pot isn't going to cover the costs of the attempt much less
generate a profit.

They're dreamers saying "why *not*."

More power to them.

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_s...veloperid=4415
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